Indonesian Swimmers Increasingly Lag Behind

Singapore and Vietnam have excelled in terms of implementing sports science and long-term training. Without breakthroughs in athlete development, it will be difficult for Indonesian swimmers to compete at the SEA level.

KOMPAS/Adrian Fajriansyah

Indonesian women\'s swimmer Azzahra Permatahani is competing in the women\'s 200-meter breaststroke final at the 2019 Philippines SEA Games at the Aquatic Arena, New Clark City, Philippines, Thursday (5/12/2019).

NEW CLARK CITY, KOMPAS – The 2019 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games has laid bare the position of Indonesian swimmers in the regional competition, in which they are increasingly lagging behind Singaporean and Vietnamese swimmers. The two countries have excelled in terms of implementing sports science and long-term training beginning 15 years ago. Without breakthroughs in athlete development, it will be difficult for Indonesian swimmers to compete at the Southeast Asian level.

As the second day of swimming competition ended at the New Clark City Aquatics Center in the Philippines on Thursday (5/12/2019), Singapore led with eight golds, three silvers and one bronze. Vietnam followed behind with four golds, four silvers and two bronzes. Host Philippines is in third place with one gold, one silver and two bronzes. Indonesia is in fourth place with two silvers and five bronzes.

On Thursday, swimmer Triady Fauzy, the defending champion in the men’s 200-meter individual medley, could only win bronze. The 28-year-old swimmer was defeated by only 0.25 seconds by 16-year-old Vietnamese Nguyen Tran Hun, who won gold with a time of 2.56 seconds. Singaporean swimmer Darren Chua Yi Sou, 19, won silver.

Triady said that he was unfocused nowadays as he had been preparing for his wedding since earlier in the year. This led to him to miss a number of practice sessions, including a three-month training camp in Bali and training in the United States in October-November.

KOMPAS/DENTY PIAWAI NASTITIE

Women\'s doubles Rifanty Dwi Kahfiani and Priska Madelyn Nugroho surrender to second-seeded Peangtarn Plipuech and Tamarine Tanasugarn (Thailand), 4-6, 7-6 (5), (5-10). The game was held at the Rizal Memorial Stadium tennis court in Manila, Philippines, on Thursday (5/12/2019).

At this year’s SEA Games, Singapore and Vietnam rely on swimmers under 20 years old. In the men’s 1,500-meter freestyle, for instance, Indonesian Aflah Fadlan Prawira, 22, suffered a defeat from Vietnamese Nguyen Huy Hoang, 19, who won gold with a time of 14 minutes and 58.14 seconds.

Out of six Indonesian swimmers who made it through to finals in five categories on Thursday, the country only managed to win one silver and three bronzes. Anak Agung Istri Kania Ratih and Glenn Victor Sutanto won their respective bronzes in the women’s 50-meter backstroke and men’s 50-meter butterfly.

In Indonesia, training programs and camps only exist ahead of competitions.

Indonesian swimming team manager Wisnu Wardhana said that Singapore and Vietnam excelled as they had sustainable and continuous training for athletes. Singapore began in 2004 and Vietnam in 2001. Nowadays, both countries are enjoying the fruits of their hard work.

“In Indonesia, training programs and camps only exist ahead of competitions. Afterwards, they stop. As a result, national training camp is not sustainable,” Wisnu said.

Glenn said that Indonesia lagged behind Singapore and Vietnam in sports science.

KOMPAS/DENTY PIAWAI NASTITIE

Striker Osvaldo Ardiles Haay (right) tries to take control of the ball from the Laotian players in the 2019 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games at the Imus Stadium, Philippines, on Thursday (12/5/2019). Indonesia won over Laos, 4-0.

Aiman’s gold

In road cycling, Aiman Cahyadi surprised by winning gold in the men’s individual time trial with a time of 58 minutes and 37.003 seconds. Aiman struggled to withstand pain from cramps when he was 12 kilometers away from the finish line.

“Aiman started at the third position from behind. Since the beginning, he went fast and overtook all the cyclists in front of him,” Indonesian national cycling team manager Budi Saputra told Kompas over the phone on Thursday.

As of Thursday at 10 p.m., Indonesia was ranked third in the overall medal tally, with 27 golds, 36 silvers and 39 bronzes. On Thursday alone, the country won 10 golds, nine silvers and 11 bronzes. (DEN)